Spring Creek, Phelps County By Elizabeth Shockely, Stream Team 5722 INSIDE 5 4 3 2 7 8 THIS ISSUE Phone, Email? New Address, postage and paper! paper! and postage u helping for Thanks 800-781-1989. call or [email protected] Email at us keep your contact Stream TeamsStream info up-to-date. info Streams 10 Ways Protect to Winners Prize Activity Great Rivers State State Rivers Great the for up Speaking road: the on you See Corner: Coalition 2018 Stars Data Minute: Monitoring Directory Discount 2019 Outfitters Float Paperless Go Activity Report Activity Team Calendar Teams Action in Review Riffle Team Snapshots Please help us Strong! 5939 s save

T have reported on their Stream Team data submissions that the the that Team submissions data Stream their on have reported They Peres. des of River the –atributary Creek Engelholm in macroinvertebrates and quality water monitor students CHERP project. re-wilding this work guided student from Insights panels. solar or UMSL’s “green” to and gardens rooftop gardens, with buildings pollinator create habitats, native restore to proposals numerous have written They problem. species invasive the and ecosystems, secessional uses, land contemporary through echoes how history learned Students worries. urban from asanctuary (savanna) built “meadows” they and as oaks enjoyed mature family Lucas pioneer how about the have learned students years, the Over studies. interdisciplinary ecology, arts/eco or historical management, land ecology, urban restoration history, natural in projects course complete Students ethics. environmental and explore ecology, thinking, science students where experience learning ahands-on is Ecology Urban requirements. science education general fulfill to courses Ecology CHERP’s Urban take can students UMSL initiative. for this groundwork trees. planting and seeds Teams sowing of are Stream anumber from conservationists citizen and crews service-learning of student acombination site and the preparing is Inc. Solutions, Native Landscape Grant. Conservation Community MDC a$30,000 through funded is project The birds. deer, foxes, numerous and coyotes, white-tailed including wildlife terrestrial and macroinvertebrates for aquatic habitat creates and streams headwater urban two to ecosystems wild returns also project This years. in 200 time first for the campus on be will communities plant and a smattering of riffle beetles, caddisflies, caddisflies, beetles, of riffle asmattering and populations, crayfish two isopods, and oflots scuds found have also They chlorides. elevated persistent for –except clean and clear remarkably is water native completed, When Creek. Engelholm from upslope savanna afour-acre and Creek of Maline along abranch woodland native afour-acre restoring are They campus. County St. Louis the on acres eight about “re-wild” to 3999)initiative an off kicked College Honors (TeamLaclede Pierre at program ecology urban (CHERP) Project Research Environmental Honors Campus the Team 3999 Stream Fish, James By Missouri on Urban Streams UMSL Recreates Native For a decade, UMSL Honors College undergraduates have been laying the restoration ecology ecology restoration the laying have been College Honors undergraduates UMSL For adecade, Information forandabout Grounds Department and and Department Grounds (UMSL) -St. Louis Missouri of University the winter, his

people learned about savanna about learned people restoration. 50 ecologists, restoration NLS Led by Kickoff. and Celebration 14th Savanna UMSL’s during February planting savanna for acres over two prepared mower. mower The aforestry with honeysuckle Japanese and brush clearing Inc. Solutions, Landscape Native Missouri Stream Teams Stream Missouri Did You Know See “Recreates” continued on page 2 page on continued “Recreates” See ▪May/June 2019 Continued on page 2 page on Continued . ? See “Recreates” continued on page 1 dragonflies, damselflies, and crane fly larvae. The savanna restoration project should improve stream health. This restoration ecology project is part of UMSL Grounds Supervisor Gregory Ward’s vision to manage campus lands for environmental sustainability and beauty. Ward is establishing “low-mow zones” that minimize mowing and pollution while allowing wildflowers to bloom. Low- mow zones are prime candidates to become urban native savanna or prairie gardens. UMSL recently received Tree Campus USA recognition as part of 2018 Data Stars! their commitment toward becoming a leading environmentally sustainable ongratulations to our 2018 VWQM Data university for the 21st century. C Star award winners! We tip our hats to the monitors that went above and beyond with their water quality data collection and submissions for their sites. These folks have sent in 100% complete and accurate data submissions based upon their level of training (the online Data Stars submitted at least 2 complete sets of all 4 data types in 2018). We are inspired by the data stars’ dedication and the attention to detail regarding monitoring procedures and data submissions. We also appreciate the high-quality, long-term data they have provided for streams throughout Missouri. So once again, thank you and Tom Ball (Team 3553) explains how the brush lifter jaws uproot invasive shrubs congratulations to the 2018 Data Stars! and minimize the need for subsequent control measures. The tool is very useful around homes and private land projects. Paper Submissions: 16 Total  William Bockenkamp (ST 5323)  Megan Corrigan (ST 5538) Don’t forget  Kylee Diestelkamp (ST 5119)  Jeannie Gearin (ST 5742)  Lynne Hooper (ST 4794) that discounts are available  Sue Knight (5527) to Stream Teams from canoe  Kelly Koch (ST 4325)  Kari Pratt (ST 4565) outfitters statewide. Check your  Joe Ryan (ST 907) Float Outfitters Discount Directory  Sandi Schulz (ST 4325)  Michael R. Smith (ST 3491) when planning your next event!  Tim R. Smith (ST 4325) Available online at  Kerry Sturgis (ST 5330) mostreamteam.org  Jerry Thomovsky (ST 4325)  Cindy Thomovsky (ST 4325)  Darrin Welchert (ST 4218)

Online Submissions: 12 Total  Earl Barge (ST 4913) Go Paperless!  Ross Braun (ST 4746) After the July/August 2019 issue, Channels newsletter  Michael Engle (ST 4220) will be sent by email-only. If you are not currently  Paul Goodwin (ST 57) receiving Channels by email, please update your email  Michael Hey (ST 4913) address by contacting us at [email protected] or  Tim Kirchhoff (ST 509) by reaching out to your coordinating biologist at  Steve McCarthy (ST 5099) (800) 781-1989.  John Palmer (ST 4913)  Chris Pistole (ST 3714)  Larry Ruff (ST 463)  Robert Virag (ST 5080) . . . that you can . . .  Susan Wrasmann (ST 3713) Continued on page 3

Channels 2 May/June 2019 Team Snapshots The Riffle Review a bi-monthly glimpse of Stream Team activities Since our last issue of Channels, Stream Team members reported: l 368 total activities l 27.2 tons of trash collected l 3,207 total participants l 96 water quality monitoring trips l 28,182 total hours l 32 trees planted Check out more highlights below . . . Team 48 Ron Phelps, who has dutifully maintained his slice of heaven along Shoal Creek to Grand Falls for more than 30 years, wrapped up his totals from all of 2018. A total of 124 55-gallon drums worth of litter was accumulated, despite low water and fewer visitors. Thank you for your dedication all these years! Fulton’s Southwinds Subdivision now has their Team 246 Even though the Thomas family has moved to Tulsa, they took storm drains labeled with “Dump No Waste - Drains the Stream Team spirit with them and currently share it on the Illinois River in to Stream” thanks to this energetic group of Girl Scouts helping out Team 5254. A great time had by Oklahoma. But they didn’t stop there. “In a bit of adventure my wife and I and a all while spreading an important message. couple of guides did a litter pickup on a portion of jungle river (Sittee River) in Belize,” said Guy Thomas. How inspiring! Team 1216 The Bowers Mill Team got a great workout on the Spring River, pulling big truck tires and hauling them uphill to load them, in addition to a pickup-full of litter. “The folks Empire [District Electric Company] provided to accept the tires were very accommodating,” said Sam Calvin. TTeam 2490 Ken Clements of the Moniteau Creek Rangers and family enjoys cleaning up on Moniteau Creek in Howard County, because “it keeps our farm beautiful and you never know what you might find.” Ain’t that the truth! Team 3517 When a community comes together to volunteer their time to keep it clean, big results can happen. In 2018, volunteers in Columbia collected Cuivre River in Lincoln County got a good more than 34 tons of trash throughout the year. Wow! scrubbing by the Come-unity Team 5822. The haul included 750 pounds of trash, nine tires, and 400 Team 3853 The weather and shorter daylight hours did not cooperate for a pounds of old carpet. Wow! litter pickup, so the Belews Creek Watershed Partnership held a meeting instead No doubt to discuss their plans for keeping the stream and road ditches clean, and how surprised at litter affects the critters in the stream, making good use of their time. how much trash a kayak Team 4707 The Stewards of Grand Glaize are taking a unique approach to can actually educating about road salt application by reaching out to the landscapers and salt hold, this young appliers directly with the message “Please save a buck and save stream wildlife! helper from the Salt smart, scatter with three inches in between.” River Paddlers Stream Team Team 4443 With her 6-year-old twins in tow on a tributary to Little Beaver 5838 made a big Creek in Phelps County, Kari Lane was proud to say that “it was their first time difference on the Jacks Fork! traversing the creek in winter and no one fell despite the slippery wet bedrock!” Team 5293 Taking advantage of the low water and an unseasonably warm January day, the Caudill family pulled trash and tires out of Cowskin Creek. “We got to see some wildlife as well as a few deer crossing the creek. After that, like always we had a small barbecue, it was just overall a great day.” Team 5626 The City Zoo AAZK Team held their first cleanup event braving the mud and steep banks of the Blue River, picking up 40 bags of trash, 11 tires, and a trash dumpster in just a short distance along the river. They are already planning another cleanup and will be prepared with “wet suits, ladders, and more bodies!” said Kayleigh Kisner.

The Fly Fishers at the Crossing (Team 4907) pause for a group photo after a job well done monitoring water quality and picking up litter on Calvey . . . protect your . . . Creek in Robertsville State Park. Your service is Continued on page 4 invaluable! May/June 2019 3 Channels Handling “Special” TEAM CALENDAR Trash MAY By Chris Riggert, MDC Stream Team Coordinator 3 Watershed Committee of the monthly meeting, hat do you do if you run across a barrel, weapon, or medical waste? Springfield. Contact Stacy at417-866-1127 for more W Litter pickups are the most popular activity in which Stream Team information. volunteers participate. Every year, thousands of dedicated Missourians take 3-4 START Water Quality Monitoring, Creve Coeur Creek. to our waterways removing thousands of tires, tons of metal, plastic, and Contact us at [email protected] to register. other debris. 4-5 Dardenne Days, St. Charles County. Visit Teams run across all sorts of things when helping keep our state’s greenwaynetwork.org to register or contact Larry at streams clean. Most of these items are harmless, interesting, or even 636-498-0772 to find out more. downright entertaining. However, they also encounter items which may be 5 START Water Quality Monitoring, Dardenne Creek. Contact us at [email protected] to register. illegal and/or dangerous. Knowing what to recognize, how to handle these 8 Big Muddy Speaker Series, St. Charles. Visit items, and who to contact for proper removal/disposal is critical in keeping bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more. everyone safe. 11 Kayak Meetup at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton. With this in mind, Greenway Network sponsored a Special Handling Contact Donna at 573-434-4400 for more information. Training in February to teach Stream Team site leaders what to do if they 11 Rock Bridge Monitoring Blitz, Columbia. Contact Lynne run across items requiring special attention. at [email protected] to volunteer. Discussions were led by the Cole County Sheriff’s Department, 11 Osage Spring 12 Race. Find out more at riverrelief.org. Missouri Departments of Health and Senior Services, Conservation, and 14 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Rocheport. Visit Natural Resources, as well as EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard on topics which bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more. included the importance of pre-scouting, orphaned barrels, illicit discharges, 18 Fort Osage Missouri River Cleanup, Sibley. Sign up online at riverrelief.org. drug paraphernalia, weapons, medical waste, needles, water safety, and 19 Cleanup on the Joachim, Festus. Contact Dennis at various violations of the Wildlife Code. 636-232-5225 or [email protected] for more Some important take-home points gained from this training: information. • Pre-scouting: Allows you to properly prepare for and possibly identify “special” trash. JUNE • Trespass: Always get permission to access areas to be cleaned. 1 Muddy Bottoms Cleanup at Platte Falls Conservation • Water safety: Develop a trip plan to let others know where you will be, Area, Platte City. Contact Clint at 816-365-1481 to find out and when you expect to be back. more. • Wildlife Code: Recognize potential violations and contact your local 1 Jacks Fork Cleanup, Eminence. Contact Ted at Conservation Agent. [email protected] for more information. • Drug paraphernalia: Recognize various types of drug paraphernalia 3 Greenway Network monthly meeting, St. Peters. Call and wash your hands with soap and water (not sanitizer) if you suspect 636-498-0772 to learn more. you’ve handled these types of materials. 8 River Rescue – James River, Nixa. Register with Brent at • Blood-borne pathogens/needle disposal: Contracting a blood 417-836-4847 or [email protected]. borne pathogen is rare, but precautions can be taken including using 11 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Rocheport. Visit puncture resistant gloves, wearing nitrile gloves under leather gloves, bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more. 12 Big Muddy Speaker Series, St. Charles. Visit and disposing of sharps in a designated container (heavy-gauge bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more. plastic). Large quantities should be left alone and reported to the DNR 15 Village of Claycomo Stream Team Cleanup. Contact Environmental Emergency Response (EER) team. Jamie at [email protected] for more • Illicit discharge: Recognize signs of raw sewage, petroleum, spills, information. cyanobacteria, and/or fish kills. Contact DNR EER. 15 Upper Current River Cleanup, Salem. Contact Jack and • Orphaned tanks: Leave barrels and other containers alone, do Mary at 573-729-7065 to volunteer. NOT touch. Take a photograph, record location (GPS and written 15 Paddle for a Cause, St. Louis. Learn more at description), and describe container and any labeling. Contact DNR openspacestl.org. EER. 15 Osage Howler, Wardsville. Contact Bonnie at Remember to If you believe you have [email protected] to find out more. never move barrels 19 Scenic Rivers Stream Team Association meeting, encountered something requiring with unknown location TBD. Contact Ted at [email protected] to special attention, call DNR’s substances inside get involved. Environmental Emergency because if you do, 22 Bike With Your Boots On, St. Louis. RSVP to Response at 573-634-2436, your you assume full [email protected]. local Conservation Agent, or your responsibility for 25 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Kansas City. Visit Stream Team Biologist before that barrel and its bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more. handling. disposal. 29 START Water Quality Monitoring, Defiance. Contact us at [email protected] to register.

Please check online at mostreamteam.org for more events and updates . . . local stream using . . . to the Team calendar! Continued on page 7

Channels 4 May/June 2019 Missouri Stream Team Activity Report Stream Team Number______Home Phone (______)______-______Mail this Activity Report to: Team Name______Work Phone (______)______-______MISSOURI STREAM TEAM PO BOX 180 Your Name______Email______JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102-0180 Shipping Address (no PO Box) Contact Person for Team______Is this a business address? Yes No We welcome Is there a change in Contact Person? Yes No ______your activity photos. Is there a change in Contact Person address? Yes No They may be published in our ______If yes, new address______newsletter or annual report. Thank you! ______Please help Please allow save shipping costs. Activity Order 3 weeks Activity Report Ship to your office for shipping. or school. Supply Items Stream Team Activity 1 Stream Team Activity List These free supplies are for your Number Stream Team activities requested Activity Type (see codes at right) ______Activity Code Measurement First Aid Kits (limit one per 5-10 participants) Adopt-An-Access AAA New access adopted Activity Date______Litter Pickup Bags (green mesh 24” x 36”) Advocacy on stream issue ADV Number of events Litter Pickup Bags (red mesh 14” x 26”) Stream Name______Article written for publication ART Number of articles Work Gloves (adult size) Assisted MDC fish stocking FIS Number of events Activity County______Work Gloves (youth size) Award received AWA Number of awards These free incentives are for your Number Activity Basin (optional)______Education project EDU Number of events Stream Team volunteers requested Forestkeepers monitoring FOR Number of trips Bookmarks (dragonfly) Miles of River Covered (optional)______GPS reading GPS Number of trips Bookmarks (spring peeper) Grant applied/received GRT Number of projects Bumper Stickers (Quality Water, 3 1/2” x 9 1/4”) Count of Volunteers______Greenway development GRE Number of projects Colorbook: Stream Team Most Wanted (Grade 4-6) Hours Spent on Project ______Colorbook: Stream Team Superstars (Grade K-3) Habitat improvement HAI Number of projects Mini-Buttons (Stream Team, 1” pins) Measurement: Please list number of trash bags Letter written on stream issue LET Number of letters collected, trees planted, letters written, storm drains Litter pickup LPU Number of litter bags Patches (Stream Team, Scouts only 3”) stenciled, WQM trips, etc. See list at right. Pencils (Get Into Missouri Streams) Media contact/interview MED Number of interviews Post-it Notes (Stream Team, 3” x 4”) ______Monofilament recycling MRP Weight of line recycled Other: please describe OTH Number of projects Scratch Pads (Stream Team, 5 1/2” x 8”) Location Description: Please provide a detailed Stickers “Get Into Missouri Streams” (3” round) location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream Photo-point monitoring PPM Number of photos Stickers “I Love Missouri Streams” (3” round) from Hwy. 63 bridge over Cedar Creek a mile south of Pre-activity planning PLN Number of events River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov. T-shirts (Stream Team) Size Small Presentation to groups PRE Number of presentations T-shirts (Stream Team) Size Medium ______Rain garden/barrel, green roof NPS Number of projects T-shirts (Stream Team) Size Large Recruited new Team/members REC Number of new members ______T-shirts (Stream Team) Size X-Large ST Association activity ASC Number of events T-shirts (Stream Team) Size XX-Large ______ST display at school, fair, etc. DIS Number of events ST Inventory Guide submitted INV Number of inventories ______For a full list of Thank You items Storm drain stenciling SDS Number of drains marked visit mostreamteam.org Project Description: Please describe your activity Stream access maintenance SAM Number of litter bags/events and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual Stream Team meeting MTG Number of attendees Activity Prize Drawing litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome The more activities you submit, the better your chances! antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!” Stream Team mentoring MEN Team mentored & events New prizes every three months! Check one Stream workshop attended WKS Number of attendees If you would like to be included in our ______Streambank stabilization SSP Number of projects Activity Prize Drawing, please check the  box at right and attach a list of participant ______Tree planting PLT Number of trees names. Please print clearly. or Water quality monitoring WQM Number of trips Attention teachers and youth group ______leaders: For a youth group prize, please Watershed mapping WAT Number of trips check the box at right. You do not need to  include a participant list for group prizes. Youth Group Prize ______Zebra mussel monitoring ZEB Number of trips

If you order in advance, please don’t forget to Report more activities on back! report your accomplishments AFTER your event.

May/June 2019 5 Channels Your activities power the Stream Team Program! Missouri Stream Team Activity Report continued Thank you! Stream Team Activity 2 Stream Team Activity 3 Stream Team Activity List Activity Code Measurement Activity Type (see codes at right) ______Activity Type (see codes at right) ______Adopt-An-Access AAA New access adopted Activity Date______Activity Date______Advocacy on stream issue ADV Number of events Article written for publication ART Number of articles Stream Name______Stream Name______Assisted MDC fish stocking FIS Number of events Activity County______Activity County______Award received AWA Number of awards

Activity Basin (optional)______Activity Basin (optional)______Education project EDU Number of events Forestkeepers monitoring FOR Number of trips Miles of River Covered (optional)______Miles of River Covered (optional)______GPS reading GPS Number of trips

Count of Volunteers______Count of Volunteers______Grant applied/received GRT Number of projects Greenway development GRE Number of projects Hours Spent on Project ______Hours Spent on Project ______Habitat improvement HAI Number of projects Measurement: Please list number of monitoring trips, Measurement: Please list number of monitoring trips, Letter written on stream issue LET Number of letters bags of trash collected, letters written, trees planted, storm bags of trash collected, letters written, trees planted, storm Litter pickup LPU Number of litter bags drains stenciled, events held, etc. See list at right. drains stenciled, events held, etc. See list at right. Media contact/interview MED Number of interviews ______Monofilament recycling MRP Weight of line recycled Other: please describe OTH Number of projects Location Description: Please provide a detailed Location Description: Please provide a detailed location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream Photo-point monitoring PPM Number of photos from Hwy. 63 bridge over Brush Creek a mile south of from Hwy. 63 bridge over Brush Creek a mile south of Pre-activity planning PLN Number of events River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov. River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov. Presentation to groups PRE Number of presentations ______Rain garden/barrel, green roof NPS Number of projects Recruited new Team/members REC Number of new members ______ST Association activity ASC Number of events ______ST display at school, fair, etc. DIS Number of events ST Inventory Guide submitted INV Number of inventories ______Storm drain stenciling SDS Number of drains marked Project Description: Please describe your activity Project Description: Please describe your activity Stream access maintenance SAM Number of litter bags/events and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual Stream Team meeting MTG Number of attendees litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!” antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!” Stream Team mentoring MEN Team mentored & events Stream workshop attended WKS Number of attendees ______Streambank stabilization SSP Number of projects ______Tree planting PLT Number of trees Water quality monitoring WQM Number of trips ______Watershed mapping WAT Number of trips ______Zebra mussel monitoring ZEB Number of trips

Additional notes and information

Notes______Questions? Need help getting started? ______Please contact us at: ______Phone: 1-800-781-1989 (voicemail) Email: [email protected] Website: www.mostreamteam.org If you ordered supplies in advance, please don’t forget Facebook: www.facebook.com/mostreamteams to report your accomplishments AFTER your event. Fax: 573-526-0990 Thank you for volunteering to help The Stream Team Program needs your final results! Missouri’s waterways.

Channels 6 May/June 2019 Activity Prize Drawing 10 Ways to protect streams 4th Quarter Prize Winners by water-consciously landscaping your yard Paul Goodwin - Springfield, MO By Besa Schweitzer, Stream Team 4872  Team 57 – SW Missouri Fly Fishers #1. Install a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a large water barrel Besa Schweitzer – St. Louis, MO that is attached to your downspout to collect rainwater.  Team 4872 – Bayless Bridge Team Rain barrels give you a free supply of water for watering Mike Haas – Joplin, MO your garden. Using rainwater is a sustainable alternative to  Team 5692 – Chert Glades MMN watering with tap water and plants prefer rainwater. (This Ronna Haxby – Kimberling City, MO also means less water needs to be chemically treated by the  Team 4325 – Ozarks Water Watchers water company.) Stream Team Association #2. Build a rain garden. Gardens that are designed to John Madras – Jefferson City, MO collect rainwater are called rain gardens. Letting the garden  Team 2586 – Big Piney Farm Team collect water keeps the soil moist for longer and prevents Debby Sousley – Warsaw, MO stormwater runoff. More water is allowed to percolate  Team 5615 – Skeet’s Dream Team naturally into the soil and this helps to slow down and clean Cheryl Thomas – St. Louis, MO the water. Rain gardens should be planted with moisture-  Team 4470 – St. Ann School Streamers loving native plants. #3. Use swales to direct water through the landscape. Please keep sending us Stand in your landscape during a rainstorm and watch as your Activity Reports . . . the water flows across it. If there are areas where you would like to direct it you can build a swale. A swale is a small Rain barrels are a great way to YOU might win NEXT! ditch that can be as small as an inch deep. Swales that are collect water for taking care of very curvy help to slow the speed of the water and promote your garden without needing to 2nd Quarter Prizes infiltration. Slowing water as it moves across the landscape use municipal water. S Canoe - “Colorado” prevents erosion and flash floods. #4. Don’t use salt in winter. To keep your walkways from being slick, use an alternative S Eton American Red Cross Hand Turbine AM/FM Weather Radio like ashes, bird seed, or sand. Direct water away from your paths using swales. Surfacing your paths with a rough material like gravel or wood chips helps to keep them from being S Silent Spring Book slippery and permeable surfaces allow water to seep away faster. Salt is harmful to plants S Cuisinart 14” portable Charcoa Grill and soil microbes in your garden and harmful to aquatic life once it reaches the stream. S 4 Nature Card sets by Gail Rowley #5. Don’t use fertilizer. It is easy to add too much fertilizer to your landscape and the extra fertilizer flows into the creek and creates an algae bloom. To prevent the risk of over S 20L Dry Bag fertilizing, garden with native plants that don’t need fertilizers. S Youth Prize: Planet Earth gift set #6. Safely dispose of yard waste. It is a common practice to dump yard waste into forgotten corners at the edge of our neighborhoods. Usually there is a neglected creek nearby which is polluted by all the extra organic matter. Make sure that your yard waste is being composted a safe distance from streams. #7. Remove invasive plants. Streams are often protected corridors for wildlife to live and travel. Stream corridors can be infested with invasive plants easily from our landscapes because of seeds traveling with stormwater or birds bringing seeds from our gardens to the stream. Protect streams by removing all invasive plants on your land. #8. Grow deep roots. Trees and many native plants grow large root systems deep into the earth. Deep root systems help to evaporate water in the soil by pumping water through the plant and back into the atmosphere. Roots also improve soil by breaking it up and adding organic matter which helps the soil absorb more water. #9. Slow erosion. Soil erosion is a big problem in streams where stream life is smothered by all the mud in the water. When spaces between rocks in the creek bed are filled with sediment, aquatic life has no place to attach or hide from predators. Protect garden soil from eroding by covering bare soil with mulch or plants to allow soil to settle out of the water before it gets to the stream. Lawns are a cause of many erosion problems because the short root systems do not hold the soil in place and the short leaves allow water to quickly flow across. #10. Make zero runoff your goal. Take responsibility for every drop of rain that lands on your landscape and try to keep it there. Slow down and infiltrate as much water as you can into the soil. Do a small part to protect your watershed starting with your own landscape.

. . . certain watershed-friendly . . . Continued on page 8

May/June 2019 7 Channels Coalition Corner News from Stream Teams United See you on the road:

Speaking up for the Great RiverS State By Mary Culler, Stream Teams United Executive Director s you receive this edition of the Coalition Corner, we will be approaching the end of this year’s state legislative session that Aends on May 17. As part of the advocacy role of the Coalition, we have reviewed the topics of over 2,000 bills and resolutions that have been filed with the state legislature this year. Over a dozen bills landed on our “Primary Watchlist” as bills that are of high interest to the Stream Team community. We are a non-partisan organization made up of Stream Team members. The common theme that brings us all together is a love of Missouri streams and a desire to enjoy and conserve them for future generations. In 2018, SB 782 was passed and signed by the Governor. This bill weakens the Missouri Clean Water law, allows pollution from agricultural stormwater, and reduces the ability of the state to prevent pollution before it occurs. In 2019, two bills, SB 391 and HB 271, seek to remove the ability of local counties or towns to have ordinances related to certain environmental issues. The common theme in these bills is a deterioration of the ability of the state and local counties to identify and regulate water quality issues. As advocates for “The Great Rivers State” we encourage Stream Team members to voice their opinions about issues at the federal, state, and local levels. If you have not yet reached out to your state senator or representative this year, I encourage you to contact them and let them know that Missouri streams are important to you. I have found that it is easy to reach your elected officials; you just have to try! As we approach Missouri’s bicentennial year of 2021, all Missourians will be required to receive new license plates when they renew their plates. The Missouri bluebird is going away on our standard license plates. This is a great time to consider supporting the Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition by showcasing “The Great Rivers State” plate on your vehicle. The annual donation to the Coalition helps to support our work to speak up for “The Great Rivers State” and promote Missouri’s stream resources. Visit streamteamsunited.org to view our Legislative Lookout from 2019 and order a “Great Rivers State” plate.

This year, also keep your eyes open for our new “Great Rivers State” enclosed trailer. Thanks to a generous donation by Bass Pro Shops in 2018, this trailer will be available for Stream Team Associations to borrow to help haul gear to various Stream Team events and educate our next generation about the value of Missouri’s streams. . . . lawn practices? I hope to see you on the road this year—speaking up and See page 7 for more information. showing love for “The Great Rivers State!”

Channels 8 May/June 2019